Vol. 400 No. 9
162 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice the number of community service orders which have been executed during the past 12 months; and if there is a possibility for further expanding the use of such orders as an alternative to custodial offences.
Statistics in relation to the number of community service orders executed in the last 12 months are not readily available. Statistics are compiled annually for inclusion in the annual report of the Probation and Welfare Service and in 1989, the last year for which figures are available, 1,081 orders were executed.
The utilisation of the community service order provision is a matter for the courts, but the number of orders made since the Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act, 1983, came into effect on 4 December 1984 clearly indicates that its use is increasing.
